The Redzone: The Playoffs are Coming

[hagansp]

THE REDZONE: The Playoffs are Coming
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edition #2

In this edition of the Hot Spot I am trying out a new format for the listings...the Hot List will be the top 10 players to collect and most popular who are not rookies, since rookies always get a little more added attention. We will lose the On the Radar list, and add a Hot Rookies list, which will list the top 10 Rookies, and 3 that just missed. I think this will be a better format to use. Anyway...onto the good stuff!

Wow, so the regular season only has 3 more weeks remaining, the season has flown by! Some teams are sealing up their divisions titles, while others are still fighting for their chance to be in the playoffs. LaDainian Tomlinson could top 35 Tds in a season; We could see a 7th Round pick win Rookie of the Year; the Saints are 2nd best in the NFC, the defending Super Bowl Champs will not make the playoffs, and the Eagles control their own destiny in the NFC East with Donovan McNabb out for the season...

With the playoffs only 4 weeks away, the value of players who make it into the playoffs, especially the Super Bowl creeps higher and higher. If you can get an early jump on acquiring some Super Bowl contenders, do so, as there value will skyrocket the week of the big game! Expect to see sell values on ebay go higher then you will ever see, and if you happen to have the Super Bowl MVP you will have one of the hottest players post Super Bowl for the next month.

With that said here is my opinion of how somethings will/could play out. I dont see too much of a change in the AFC...but watch out in the NFC!

My 2006-07 Playoff Predictions

AFC
East - New England Patriots
Central - Baltimore Ravens
South - Indianapolis Colts
West - San Diego Chargers
Wildcard - Cincinatti Bengals
Wildcard - Jacksonville Jaguars

NFC
East - Philadelphia Eagles
Central - Chicago Bears
South - New Orleans Saints
West - Seattle Seahawks
Wildcard - Dallas Cowboys
Wildcard - Minnesota Vikings

Playoff Breakdown
AFC
#1 San Diego Chargers - 1st Round Bye

#4 New England Patriots
#5 Cincinatti Bengals

#3 Baltimore Ravens
#6 Jacksonville Jaguars

#2 Indianapolis Colts - 1st Round Bye

NFC
#1 Chicago Bears - 1st Round Bye

#4 Philadelphia Eagles
#5 Dallas Cowboys

#3 Seattle Seahawks
#6 Minnesota Vikings

#2 New Orleans Saints - 1st Round Bye

I will post the rest in the next Hot Spot...when we have a better idea of how the playoff race will pan out. Lets see who you think is in and out!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOT 5 (Top 5 Popular Products of 2006 To Date)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 2006 Bowman Sterling:

Bowman Sterling is very hot right now, in a few weeks we will see how it settles into the overall picture. Right now packs are going for about $50 a piece, but have people buying them up left and right. The cards have a clean and professional look to them and feature 2 Jerseys and 1 Auto per pack!

2. 2006 Topps Chrome:

Topps Chrome is very popular this year, mainly due to their Rookie Autograph set...the Rookie autos are booking very well and selling just as well. Topps continues to succeed with its alternative to its regular Topps product by putting a Chrome finish on the same design of card but adding a little flash. This years Chrome added autos to the Chrome cards and seems to have found a perfect match, as you can pull a Rookie Auto on average 1 per box.

3. 2006 Leaf Limited:

Leaf Limited isnt seeming to have the hype it did in other years...I am not entirely sure why...but for now we will put it at #3 just because I am not sure where it will settle in. The look is similar to Limited over the past few years, however the pricetag per pack may be too high considering the potentially limited results you could receive.


4. 2006 Finest:

You get 1 Auto per mini box and 3 autos per box. Finest has a nice flashy look and appeals to all collectors. People love autos...and Finest brings 3 autos per box. Nice! Finest holds down a top 5 for now, but we will see how it gets affected as other high tier products release.

5. 2006 Donruss Threads:

While Donruss Threads has been released for a little while now it is still a top favorite by collectors. Threads climbs into the #5 slot, the nameplate auto cards continue to be highly sought after cards and the look of this early released Donruss product is one of the nicer looking products out there right now. Donruss hit a winner with Threads in 06!


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EARLY RELEASE INFO FOR 2006 PRODUCTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Card Info and Pics are taken from Charmcitycards.com*

2006 SP Authentic
APPROXIMATE Release Date: Week of December 25, 2006
Each sealed box contains 24 packs of 5 cards each in a 258 card base set including 90 Veterans, 90 #`d Rookies (60 #`d Level 2 and 30 #`d Level 1), 45 #`d Rookie Autograph cards, and 33 #`d Rookie Autograph Jersey Patch cards. Each box will contain TWO Rookie cards and ONE Autograph card. Parallel set: SP (#ing TBD). Inserts: Rookie Exclusive Jersey cards and Autographs (SP; Chirography: Single, #`d Gold parallel, #`d Dual, #`d Triple, and #`d Quadruple; Rookie Authentics: #`d Single, #`d Jersey Patch, and #`d Jersey Logo Patch #`d to 1; and #`d Rookie Exclusives), and Rookie Authentics Signature Patch card set redemption cards. ***Pictures to be listed when available.

2006 Bowman Chrome
APPROXIMATE Release Date: Week of January 1, 2007

Each sealed box contains 24 packs of 4 cards each in a 220 card base set including 110 Rookies 1:1. Each box will contain ONE Uncirculated Rookie card box loader and ONE Rookie Autograph card. Parallel sets: Refractor 1:6, X-Fractor (#`d to 250), Blue Refractor (#`d to 150), Gold Refractor (#`d to 50), Orange Refractor (#`d to 25), Red Refractor (#`d to 5), and 1-of-1 SuperFractor. Inserts: Autographs 1:24 (Rookie; Rookie Refractor parallels: Blue #`d to 75, Gold #`d to 50, Orange #`d to 25, Red #`d to 5, and 1-of-1 SuperFractor), Signature Series Autograph cards, Feltbacks (Rookie #`d to 199 and Rookie Refractor #`d to 25), and 1-of-1 Printing Plates.

2006 Playoff Contenders
APPROXIMATE Release Date: Week of January 1, 2007

24 packs per box, 5 cards per pack
Look for (4) Autograph Cards per box on average!!
Key Rookies: Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Vince Young, Jay Cutler, A.J. Hawk.
PRODUCT CONTENT HAS NOT YET BEEN VERIFIED, BUT WE KNOW THE REGULAR CHASE WILL TAKE PLACE FOR THE REGULAR, CHAMPIONSHIP, AND OTHER 1/1'S AUTOGRAPH ROOKIE TICKETS. REGGIE BUSH, MATT LEINART, VERNON DAVIS, JERIOUS NORWOOD, VINCE YOUNG, MAURICE JONES-DREW, A.J. HAWK AND MORE!
***Pictures to be listed when available.

2006 Topps Triple Threads
APPROXIMATE Release Date: January 22, 2007

Each sealed box contains 2 packs of 9 cards each in a 150 card base set including 90 #`d Veterans, 10 #`d Retired Greats, and 50 Autograph Rookie Triple Relic cards. Each box will contain ONE Triple Memorabilia card and ONE Autographed Triple Memorabilia card. Parallel sets: Veteran/Retired Greats (5 variations #`d to 499, 199, 99, 25, and 1-of-1), Rookie 5 variations #`d to 75, 50, 25, 10, & 1-of-1), and Platinum Autograph Memorabilia (Rookie #`d to 1, Triple Threads #`d to 1, and Triple Threads Combo #`d to 1). Inserts: Triple Memorabilia cards 1:2 (features 1 player & 3 memorabilia #`d to 36 and 3 players & 3 memorabilia #`d to 36; 5 parallel versions #`d to 27, 18, 9, 3, & 1), Autographed Triple Memorabilia cards 1:2 (features 1 player, 1 autograph & 3 memorabilia #`d to 18; 3 parallel versions #`d to 9, 3, & 1 and 3 players, 3 autographs & 3 swatches #`d to 36; 5 parallel versions #`d to 27, 18, 9, 3, & 1), White Whale (Autographed Triple Threads #`d to 1), and Framed Printing Plates (Veterans/Retired Greats each is a 1-of-1 and White Whale Autograph each is a 1-of-1)


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP PLAYERS (Whose Hot! Non Rookies)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. LaDainian Tomlinson: The new record holder for the most TDs in a single season, and still 3 games to go, Tomlinsons value has spiked two times in the past year, and expect another significant spike with this most recent achievement...Tomlinson is just sick! He will only continue to break more records.

2. Larry Johnson: LJ is still super highly sought after, but Tomlinson is stealing the attention right now. It doesnt help that the Chiefs arent doing as well this year either. LJ is the 2nd best RB in the NFL, thats nothing to be ashamed of...he just isnt LT.

3. Tony Romo: Romo jumps to the 3rd spot, because of his amazing sell values and high demand right now...Expect the hottness to cool off though. If your a Cowboy fan the high $ may be justifiable but I expect him to cool off.

4. Peyton Manning: Peyton is still the best QB in the game and collectors know it. While he hasn't seen any incredible peaks in value lately it may be a combo of his already high price with his lack of winning the big games.

5. Tom Brady: A lot of people still overlook Brady for what he does and how he does it. He has no #1 WR on his team and still has the Patriots atop the AFC East. Brady is going to go down in history as one of the greatest and he still has plenty of years left.

6. Frank Gore: Frank Gore continues to play awesome this season as the starter and his value is starting to show his ability. Some say Gore may be the best RB to come out of Miami, with the exception of his knee injuries. That puts him above Portis, Edge, and McGahee. Grab Gore now while he is still on a affordable level...could we be looking at the next big RB in the hobby?

7. Brett Favre: Im not a fan of Favre, in fact I could be described as a Favre hater...but he does have a lot of collectors and therefore he deserves a spot on the hottest collected list. Will go down as one of the greatest ever.

8. Chad Johnson: I kept trying to figure out where I could find a spot to put a WR on this list...and finally concluded Chad Johnson is the most collected right now at his position. Johnson is one of the most well known players in the NFL and is a fun guy to collect.

9. Drew Brees: Brees is very hot right now and is making a run at the leagues MVP award. He is leading his Saints to some awesome wins, Drew Brees is having one of the best Passing years ever!

10. Ben Roethlisberger: Roethlisberger is having a bad year but is still a very popular player for collectors to target. He books very well and a lot of collectors love his low value right now with high value down the road. Ben is having a bad year, but dont expect him to play like this for long.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUST MISSED LIST (Players on the verge)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Phillip Rivers: Rivers is just on the verge of the HOT LIST, his value has gone up this year and if he threw the ball more, I think the collectors would look to add him to their collections more often. We will see what happens to his value as the Chargers go into the playoffs.

2. Michael Vick: There is still a following for Vick out there and he is still one of the more highly collected players out there. He is going to break 1,000 yards rushing this year and continues to revolutionize the QB position, but will he ever get it done in the playoffs.

3. Steven Jackson: Jackson is coming on strong this year. He continues to get a ton of touches in every game and if for not playing on the Rams would be a much highly collected player. Watch out for Jackson over the next few years. His numbers could explode!

4. Shawne Merriman: Merriman is arguebly the highest collected defensive player out there, ahead of Urlacher, Roy Williams and a few others...but Merriman is just a beast...Wow!

5. Carson Palmer: Carson is on the path to get the Bengals into the playoffs and try and finish what he started last year before getting hurt vs Pittsburgh. Anything is possible once the playoffs start, Carson could climb very quickly!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hottest Rookies! (Whose tearing it up in Year #1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Reggie Bush: Reggie Bush has taken the hobby and NFL by storm, and is by far the most sought after 2006 rookie out there right now! His last 2 games have been amazing and he is starting to show why he is the best player in the 2006 class. Could it be too late to win rookie of the year?

2. Vince Young: Vince Young is red hot right now, as he is trying to lead the Titans to a playoff appearance in his rookie campaign. Similar to Romo, i think his hottness will cool off soon, but thats just my opinion. If you like Vince or the Titans grab up them Youngs! He is making a strong run at rookie of the year!

3. Maurice Jones Drew: Drew has been playing really well this season and this past week completly blew up! His quickness and agility has him making defenders miss left and right.

4. Marques Colston: Still the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year in my opinion, Colston has cooled off due to an ankle injury. But wow, he is havign one of the best years of a rookie WR ever!

5. Jay Cutler: Cutler is getting a lot of attention in the hobby right now because he has been thrown into the starting gig. Cutlers value should be fairly hot for the remainder of the season.

6. Laurence Maroney: Maroney has dropped a little bit, but has one of the more promising futures of this class. He is in the perfect location in New England, he will get plenty of attention.

7. Joseph Addai: Addai has jumped onto the rookie scene with a bang! Recently he is falling a little bit, but is still one of the top rookies so far this season

8. Devin Hester: DeHester is amazing, and is starting to receive some attention like Dante Hall received a little while ago. He is getting tons of recognition for his Return ability and just keeps taking them to the house!

9. Leon Washington: Washington was very hot during the mid point of the NFL season, but has recently cooled off a little. Part of his value was due to his "pose" on his Bowman Sign of the Times auto.

10. Matt Leinart: While Leinart hasnt played amazing this year he is a top collected player and his value his high. Dont forget about Leinart!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHOSE NOT! (Players who are falling off want-list's)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Charles Rogers/Mike Williams: 2 1st Round WRs, which have both translated to BUSTS for the Lions. Rogers is now an unsigned free agent, and Mike Williams cant get on the field. Both had huge markets and high demand when they first hit the NFL, and now cards of them can be had for a few bucks.

2. Daunte Culpepper: Culpepper hasnt had a good season in 2-3 years, and while he is still recovering from knee surgery, Culpepper collectors gotta be wondering is he ever gonna return to MVP form.

3. Cadillac Williams: Cadillac Williams went from Rookie of the Year to a player who is not performing. Caddy has 1 TD and under 60 yards per game. This is a far cry from last years highest collected rookie!

4. Byron Leftwich: Byron is quickly becoming a question mark. He has the weapons, but hasnt been able to produce this year. If you acquired Leftwich at a super high price early on in his rookie season you have to be frustrated with his low value right now. Maybe a new team will help Leftwich out?

5. DeShaun Foster: Foster cannot stay on the field in Carolina. Every year we think Foster will have his breakout year and he has never been able to put together more then a few games. He was highly sought after in 2002, but has never really come around.


Keep an eye out for The Redzone, as more issues will be published monthly. Keep in mind it is hard to update if I don't get feedback from you, so let's hear it! Reply!

[randallcards]

great read, but man the Eagles Winning the NFC East? lol sorry but thats too funny

[DimeTimeSportscards]

Great Work.... I have one bone to pick and that would be for the Falcons to claim one of those wildcard spots :)

[hagansp]

i just look at schedules and i figure to make the playoffs u gotta win 2 of 3 of your games...i dont see the falcons winning 2 of 3

[DimeTimeSportscards]

i just look at schedules and i figure to make the playoffs u gotta win 2 of 3 of your games...i dont see the falcons winning 2 of 3

That 4 losses in a row streak came with Abraham out or not at 100%....with him back in and Kearney and Grady Jackson running wild, we have nothing but back up quarterbacks to face the rest of the season.... Go Falcons Go!!

[hagansp]

lol...well i see them losing to the cowboys and eagles...so thats my 2 losses for em

[DimeTimeSportscards]

lol...well i see them losing to the cowboys and eagles...so thats my 2 losses for em

I hope to pick up the Cowboys at least as that is a Home Game for us...my fear is if Dunn and Norwood are both not able to play....the rumor mill has Vick in the backfield and Schaub at QB....That was dismissed pretty quick but you never know what could happen playing at home against America's team... I am just hoping that with the playoffs on the line that the team can pull it together and pull off at least 2 wins of the three games and get into the post season.... You really did a great job on the Red Zone!!

[jonsportscardz]

Great read!!

[randallcards]

great read, but man the Eagles Winning the NFC East? lol sorry but thats too funny

the Vikings in the Wild Card?

[hagansp]

the Vikings in the Wild Card?

funny but you didnt even bring that up when i wrote it...its easy to say its wrong now...

seems the thing you said when i wrote it is gonna happen...wow you must feel dumb!

Eagles winning the East!